Isabel Heesch of Scotia finds some artwork that catches her fancy at the Schenectady Stockade Outdoor Art Show in Schenectady Saturday Sept. 10, 2011. (John Carl D'Annibale / Times Union)

Isabel Heesch of Scotia finds some artwork that catches her fancy...

Susan Hale of Scotia in line to register her oil on canvas "Scotia Sunshine" for judging at the Schenectady Stockade Outdoor Art Show in Schenectady Saturday Sept. 10, 2011. (John Carl D'Annibale / Times Union)

Mary Chapin Carpenter will be one of the headliners at the 2011 Falcon Ridge Folk Festival in Dodds Ferry. (Courtesy the artist)

Mary Chapin Carpenter will be one of the headliners at the 2011...

Rosalynne White from Amsterdam and a member of the Wolf Clan New York, dances the fancy shawl dance during the 2nd Annual Gathering of the Tribes Native American Powwow on Sunday, Sept. 11, 2011 in East Greenbush. The event is put on by the Wolf Clan New York which has 40 members according to the clans chief, Betty Overrocker, also known as Chief Little Fox. Overrocker said that the powwow is the one event that the clan holds during the year and that they hold the event as a way to teach others about the Native American culture and to bring people together for a family event. Next years powwow will be held the first weekend after Labor Day. (Paul Buckowski / Times Union)

Rosalynne White from Amsterdam and a member of the Wolf Clan New...

Victor Grant of Schenectady works at a display of his photographs during the September in the City Art Fair, in Tricentennial Park during lunch on Wednesday Sept. 14, 2011 in Albany, NY. The event is held on Wednesdays in September from 11:30 am to 2 pm. Grant has been taking photographs since he was 10 years old, when he used a box camera with 120 film. ( Philip Kamrass / Times Union)

Victor Grant of Schenectady works at a display of his photographs...

Sparkles the Tall Juggler (aka Colleen Mahar of Schodack) , standing at 8 feet three inches tall, juggles for children during the Family Fun Fest at the Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, NY on Sunday September 5, 2010. Proceeds were to benefit the Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Capital Region. ( Philip Kamrass / Times Union )

Sparkles the Tall Juggler (aka Colleen Mahar of Schodack) ,...

Dancers from Fotia Hellenic Society perform at the St. George Greek Festival in Schenectady. (C. G. Ward Photography)

Dancers from Fotia Hellenic Society perform at the St. George Greek...

Dancers from Fotia Hellenic Society perform at the St. George Greek Festival in Schenectady. (C. G. Ward Photography)

Dancers from Fotia Hellenic Society perform at the St. George Greek...

Dancers from Fotia Hellenic Society perform at the St. George Greek Festival in Schenectady. (C. G. Ward Photography)

Dancers from Fotia Hellenic Society perform at the St. George Greek...

Dancers from Fotia Hellenic Society perform at the St. George Greek Festival in Schenectady. (C. G. Ward Photography)

Dancers from Fotia Hellenic Society perform at the St. George Greek...

Dancers from Fotia Hellenic Society perform at the St. George Greek Festival in Schenectady. (C. G. Ward Photography)

Dancers from Fotia Hellenic Society perform at the St. George Greek...

Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter Mary Chapin Carpenter took a novel approach for her latest video, "Soul Companion." Carpenter, on tour to support her new album, "Ashes and Roses," asked fans to send in photos of themselves and their "soul companion" — which could be a person, a pet or an object — to use in the video. More than 800 people replied over a two-week span, prompting Carpenter to expand the project and make a series of videos featuring the photos. Her debut video is on her website, http://www.marychapincarpenter.com Carpenter, who had hits with "Passionate Kisses" and "Shut Up and Kiss Me," will be showcasing her new songs and playing the hits when she comes to the Capital Region this week for a show at The Egg. Singer/songwriter Tift Merritt will open the show. 8 p.m. Friday. $39.50-$49.50. The Egg, Empire State Plaza, Albany. 473-1845; http://www.theegg.org

FAMILY FUN

The third annual Gathering of the Tribes will feature Native American drumming, fire dancing, storytelling, and a Native village display. Aztec dancers will perform and Native flutist Michael Redsky will play at the festival. Proceeds from the pow-wow will benefit Military Mom in Action and other local charities. And kids ages 12 and under get in for free. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 8; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 9. $5. Brown's Farm, 890 Luther Road, East Greenbush. 477-4872; http://on.fb.me/OSTp1z

It's all about bacon at Bacon Fest NY 2012. From music about bacon to a bacon-cooking contest, bacon will be front and center at the inaugural one-day event. Bacon Fest was cooked up by a local company called Live Your Life Local, whose principals couldn't figure out why the Capital Region didn't have a bacon festival. Thus, Bacon Fest was born. Six area bands — the Ramblin' Jug Stompers, Red Haired Strangers, The Lucky Jukebox Brigade, Sgt. Dunbar and the Hobo Banned, Eastbound Jesus and Unexplained Bacon — are set to play at Bacon Fest. There's also a "Bacon Cook-Off," featuring bacon recipes submitted by restaurants in the Capital Region, the Hudson Valley and the Berkshires. 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. today. $10-$45; free for children 10 and under. Henry Hudson Waterfront Park, Water Street, Hudson. 347-420-4468; http://www.baconfestny.com

Art, culture and the changing of the seasons are part of the landscape in downtown Albany this month. You can enjoy all three at the September in the City Art Fair. The city's annual late summer arts fest features art exhibits by more than 50 regional mixed media artists, who will be selling their wares during the lunchtime event. Live music is also part of the package. Slated to perform are Hand Habits (Sept. 12), Ben KN (Sept. 19), and the Ramblin' Jug Stompers (Sept. 26). Albany singer/songwriter M.R. Poulopoulos, who released his debut album, "Greenhorn," last year, kicks off the fest on Wednesday. 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday. Free. Tricentennial Park, at Broadway and Columbia Street. 434-2032; http://www.albanyevents.org

Kids rule at the Saratoga Race Course this weekend. The track will become extra kid-friendly during its annual Family Fun Fest. The festival, held on the last two days of the meet, will be held in the backyard area. That's where kids and families will find carnival games, pony rides, face painting, a spin art area and other fun activities. Sparkles the stilt walker and roaming jugglers will be on hand to entertain. Kids can also catch a magic show, climb an inflatable rock wall, run through an obstacle course or bounce in an inflatable bounce house. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Capital Region. 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 3. $3. Saratoga Race Course, 267 Union Ave., Saratoga Springs. 584-6200; http://www.nyra.com/saratogaevents.shtml

It's all Greek at the 37th annual St. George Greek Festival. The three-day event, sponsored by St. George Greek Orthodox Church in Schenectady, will feature homemade Greek foods like moussaka, Olympian kotta, souvlaki and delectable pastries such as baklava, kataifi and kourambiethes. The Ageans will play Greek music and there will be Greek dancing — performed by the Fotia Hellenic Society — and presentations of classical Greek theater. Arts and crafts, kids' activities and raffles are also slated. 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday; noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. Free. St. George Hellenic Center, 510 Liberty St., Schenectady. 393-0742; http://www.stgeorge.ny.goarch.org

VISUAL ARTS

Young artists will have a chance to compete in this year's Stockade Villagers' Outdoor Art Show. Youths ages 8-18 can vie for honors in the Young Artist category, which will be judged separately from adult categories in the juried out show. Dozens of area artists will display their works at the Stockade's 61st annual art showcase. Drawings, paintings, sculpture, graphics, textile wall hangings and photography will available to view and to purchase at the show. Artists will compete for a number of awards, including the James Gilliland/George Weinheimer Memorial Award, the Nicholas J. Colangelo Award, the Ernest A.R. Cohen Award for "Best of Stockade" artwork, and the People's Choice Award. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. Free. Intersection of Ferry and Front streets, Schenectady. 374-7355; http://stockadeartshow.com